Nurses as Patients

I'm a NICU nurse, so if I find myself in your situation, I'll make a comment that I don't usually take care of anyone over fifteen pounds.

Some nurses find it intimidating to treat other nurses. Some find it awkward. I've treated a few nurses in my time and although I do treat them a little different than regular patients. There is a fine line in providing adequate sufficient care and making them (nurse patients) feel like idiots.

IMHO, the only difference in taking care of the two types of patients is not having to go into in-depth discussions and explanations of their medications, procedures, rationales, etc.

When I go in the patients room, I introduce myself as I would any other patient. Explain to them what you are about to do as you would any other patient. Tell them what medications you are going to give them as you would any other patient.

More than likely they would never bother to ask you any "whya and how" questions since they already know why. Nurse patients for me are actually really easy to take care of and are not pain in the asses.

Be prepared though to practice "by the book" nursing if you know what I mean.

Yes, I hve been treated differently as a patient.
When I had my gallbladder taken out earlier this year, I got virtually NO d/c teaching. Ok, I may know pretty much what I needed to know, but I am not a surgical nurse and when you are a pt, you are not always thinking in a "nurses point of view". It would have helped to have info written down.
Now, on the other hand, when I had both of my babies the nurses knew I was a nurse and they still treated me like regular pt and never "assumed" i knew everything. They were wonderful!!!!
BTW, these 2 instances were at different facilities, the 1st one I was (am) an employee of and the latter, i had never worked there. Maybe that made a difference too?????

Nope...not at all! They remind me some times when I get that glossed over "I know I know" look on my face that they have to tell me anyway! LOL...

Plus...if someone did treat me differently and didn't tell me something I needed to know because they assumed I knew it...get this..I ask! LOL! I am not worried about feeling embarrest or anything...I need to know! And I have no fear of asking questions!

If you don't know something...ASK! If you are being treated different where you should not be...tell someone! It is that easy! I may be a nurse at work...but a paying pt when I need to be..and frankly..I will send back a steak if it isn't cooked right...so I think hmmmmmm...since medical visits cost a heck of a lot more...I am going to speak up!

I always try to be as thorough as I can be with anyone I come in contact with professionally.

It doesn't matter if it is a new grad or a veteran, everyone has something to learn.

Good point.

I've received discounts on the bill for Dr's visits, x-rays, etc because I'm a nurse. Sometimes I've received preferential treatment. And on occasion, it being known I was a nurse worked against me! lol All depended on the people and place concerned.
I mostly never let on I was a nurse. Unless I knew I'd get the discount, of course! lol

Usually I'm treated as a peer: the docs are a little more open with me and are not condescending as they can be. Twice I've had negative experiences: once when my mom was a GI bleed.....the nurses left me to deal with her alone. Another time was when I had my baby. I got very little support with my nursing problems. When I asked for help and described the problems they would tell me what to try and then walk out without making sure I got it.

How I treat nurses and doctors: I am just as thorough but I know I don't have to translate the medical language. I still tell them what meds the doc's written for and how to take them, and their diagnoses.

I find that the doctors I visit are more relaxed and talk to me as a colleague. We "get" each other.